The source told BBC Wales the comments by Mr Drakeford, the finance minister, about not looking forward to doing First Minister’s Questions were “giving ammunition to opposition parties”.

Ms Morgan said “you’ve got to be hungry for the job” because there are “lots of challenges ahead in a difficult time”.

When Mr Drakeford first discussed running to succeed Carwyn Jones, he said he envisaged leading Welsh Labour into the next assembly election, in 2021, and then standing aside for a “new generation of leaders to put themselves forward for election”.

Responding to the criticism on Wednesday, Mr Drakeford said: “I believe I am best placed to serve the party and the country at this most challenging point in our history.”

He said that if he wins the leadership he will work “tirelessly” and with all the energy he has “to make a success of those responsibilities on behalf of the Welsh people.”